In every group there is an individual of great fortitude. They are the epitome of what it means to be resilient. If you are lucky in your groups, either with family, work, school, or your local hangout, you can have multiple of these resilient people. Most of the time these persistent people often have that thickened skin due to some struggle in their past. Someone who has experienced pain or suffering and has come out on the other side. These people are changed from those experiences.
“They say there is light at the end of the tunnel but not once your eyes adjust to the darkness.” – David Goggins
These people have spent time adjusting their vision to their personal dark times and have a better awareness coming out of it all. These people are Sh@t Eaters.
Allow me to explain… A sh@t eater is that person who can take massive levels of sh@t and come out the other side either stronger or with new lessons that they take on in their lives.
My parents are my top examples.
My father was kicked out at eighteen because his family couldn’t afford to support him and his two siblings. He didn’t crumble; instead he ate the sh@t given to him and made his life with his own hands. This man would then have a son and while working a full time job, going to school, and supporting a family would come home to put away all the toys I had thrown around. This man had never flinched at an obstacle coming his way. Instead he rolled with it.
My mother is the oldest of seven and had arguably one of the most treacherous upbringings. And yet, in her fifties, today can look back and see those trials as strong lessons that she instilled in me and my sister to be the rigid people she forged us to be. Her challenges continue and she takes each one on the chin like a prized fighter as she digs deeper to push forward no matter what. Resilience at its finest.
These two examples show that a sh@t eater is just another way to say warrior. I honestly like the spice that sh@t eater has at describing these kinds of amazing people. It describes that despite the odds these people do not quit. They eat the sh@t and don’t complain. Instead they win despite it.
Another type of sh@t eater is the one among friends. These people are my favorite types; because of their past they take nothing personally. My brother Andrew is a perfect example of this. No matter what you say no words ever stick to him. This is an amazing trait because when you can talk sh@t and not take it personally that shows a type of resilience that is lost in these times of “wokeness.”
These are those who can take as hard as they dish it. The ones who laugh when they fall and are the first to crack the joke at themselves. The ones who can take a flat tire and make it a fun adventure. I admire these kinds of people because they are the ones who will traverse life easier than the rest. Not because they are more talented, but because they are resilient and will get back up once knocked down. They will see an injury as needed rest, a tooth ache as an indication to care more for their teeth, a delayed flight as a time to catch up with an old friend or someone who even in their trials can be a rock for others.
These people are those who when life gets tough they lean in. Take a look at history and you will see countless examples of those who pushed the status quo even though the odds are stacked against them.
We can all aspire to be Sh@t Eaters. Heat and Pressure Make a Diamond. That means you have to outlast the discomfort and these types will always outlast anything.
If you feel you aren’t one yet, work at it. The easiest way to start is talk sh@t with others. Don’t try to break someone down, but a real companion will know the intention behind your words instead of fixating on the words alone.
Mr. Sods 